Chute construction



Oct. 8, 1957 l c; M. WILKINSOIQ 25808525 CHUTE CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2', 1954 Nw O 5 m M M 8. m H m m C T. M T R A M 6 0 B I l 7 H 2 m 2 W Oct. 8, 1957 C. M. WILKINSON Filed March 2, 1954 CHUTE CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. .4

FIG. 5

INVENTOR. CLARENCE M. WILKINSON ATTORNEYS United States Patentce CHUTE CONSTRUCTION ClarenceM.v Wilkinson, Akron, Ohio Application March 2, 1954, Serial No. 413,604 7 Claims. (01. 20-16) This invention relates to. improvementsfin laundry chutes, garbage chutes, rubbish chutes or the like, and particularly relates to a novel type of frame and door means for such chutes together with means for. controlling. the opening and closing action of the door in. afreadily adjustable manner.

Heretofore various types of chutes have been provided and many different types of door opening. and closing mechanisms have likewise been designed. Some of such.

1 chutes and closures have been commercially produced.

but generally the chutes are difiicult to servic-eafter once installed. The present type of a. chute is similar to that disclosed in and. covered by my previous. United. States. Letters Patent Number 2,587,021 issued. February 26, 1952. In chutes of this type, it frequently is necessary to be able to repair or adjust the door. and its. action as the bearings for the door may have to be replaced rela-. tively frequently or other repair or. maintanence. action may be required thereon. Hence it is. very desirable that the door be easily removable to permit accessto the door frame and associated means, and, specifically, to permit a convenient, easy change of the bearing means used on the door without disturbing the door frame. Furthermore, in different chute constructions, it is. de.-. sirable in some instances that the door only open asmall amount such as 30 to 45 degrees whereas inother. installations it may be. desirable to open the chute'door asmuch as 60 to 90 degrees so that a universal adjustablecontrolfor the chute door to regulate its action would, simplify. the number of styles of chutes whichwould be. produced.

The general object of the present inventionis topmvide a new and'improved type of. a chute. construction and. door and'frame means characterized by the accessibility of the components thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide achute construction wherein the bearing meanspositioninga door or closure member in the chute are readily available for repair or replacement, or for removal of the door, as desired without disturbing the door frame in anymannern Another object of the invention is to provide door; check and closure means ina laundry chute whereinsuch. door check and closure means can be connected to. thev remainder of the mechanism in an easily adjustable manner to provide any desired maximum door openingangle.

Yet another object of the invention is to secure door check means in a chute construction so that the forces set up thereby can be easily varied and controlled and a positive self-closing action can be obtained from an open or a partly closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a noiseless automatic door closure which returns a door to latched position.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of theinvention will be made more apparent as thespecification proceeds.

In order to understand the details of the invention more.- Clearly, reference should be had to the accompanying 2,808,625 Patented Oct. 8, 1957 2 drawings wherein one currently preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the chute construction of the invention with parts thereof broken away for clarity;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section. taken. on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation taken on line 44 of' Fig. 1 with the trim strip removed to show details of the frame means of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line'5'5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6. is an elevation of a modification of the chute structure of the invention with cover panels removed and parts broken away for clarity; and

Fig, 7 is a. side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 6.

i In referring to corresponding parts in the drawings and the. specification, corresponding numerals. are used to" facilitate comparison. between such similar parts in the drawings and specification.

The. invention relates to a rubbish, garbage, or laundry chute, or the like. wherein a quadrilateral frame having a center opening therein is provided, a door is present in.

the apparatus, and means pivotally secure the door to the frame forcovering. the frame center opening, which means include readily accessible, exposed bearing means for journalling the door on the frame. The chute also has. a. returncylinder with a control piston therein, while adjustable link means secure the return cylinder to the door to move the cylinder a variable distance correspond-- i'ng tomovement of. the door, and means secure the con-- trol' piston to the frame to provide relative-movement between the piston and return cylinder on movement of i the door.

Particular attention. now is directed to the details of' the. structure shown inthe accompanying drawings, and. chute closure and associated means is shown and is indi-- cated as a whole. by the numeral 1. This chute closure 1 includes. a frame formed from an upper or top angle.- 2", a bottom angle 3 and side angles 4 and 5 with the: frame being completed by an edge angle 6. The various: components of the frame of the chute closure usually provide a quadrilateral frame having a center opening 7 therein andan edge or auxiliary opening 8. The center opening 7 connects toa chute throat 9formed from metal. sheet or other similar means, and extending rearwardly' anddownwardly from the chute closure.

As an important feature of theinvention, a door 10 is provided to cover the center opening 'I' in the chute closure and this. door is pivotally secured in an easily removable manner to. forwardly open, transversely extending channels 11 and 12' provided at and suitably secured to'the lower portion of the side angles 4 and 5 of'the chute frame. These channels 11 and 12 may have reinforcing edgeflanges 13' thereon. The channels 11 and 1'2 are provided for engaging or receiving bearing straps or clamps. 14 .of substantially C-shape in'section, with such bearing straps or clamps 14 being removably secured to the channels by cap screws 15, or similar. members'the' straps 14positionbearings 16 therein that journal a shaft- 17 secured to and protruding laterally from the door 10.

Another important feature of the present invention re! sides in the means'forreturning thedoor 10 to its closed position after being opened. These closure means include a control lever 18 welded, or otherwise secured to the'shaftr17 adjacent the'side angle 5 for arcuate movement with opening or closing movement of the door 10. Such. controlilever18':is.pivotally secured to a link 19 by; azrivetror similar member 20.. This link 19; as-besb 3 secured at its other end to a stud 21 which itself is welded, or otherwise secured to a clamp strap 22. This strap 22 has cars 23 thereon for engaging a bolt 24 used for drawing the ears 23 towards each other to clamp the'strap 22 tightly about any desired section'ofareturn, or control cylinder 25 provided in the apparatus of the invention. Thus the control lever 18 is'secured to the control cylinder 25 in an adjustable manner for purposes hereinafter described in more detail. The control cylinder 25 receives a control piston 26 therein and piston rod 27 is secured to such piston 26 and extends fromthe cylinder 25. Such piston rod 27 is pivotally secured to the frame means of the invention, forexarnple .by means of an anchor plate or bracket 28 fixedly secured to the bottom angle 3 of the frame. Hence on opening movement or closing movement of the door 10, relative movement is produced between the piston 26 and control cylinder 25. A return spring 29 is positioned in one end of the control cylinder 25 for compression upon opening the door 10 and release of the door provides an automatic closure of the door 10 if a suitable strength return spring is initially provided in the control cylinder 25. Preferably the control cylinder 25 also is of the controlled air check type so that a control screw or stud 30, as indicated, is present on the end of the cylinder remote from the return spring 29. Adjustment of this control screw 30 aids in regulating the action of the control cylinder 25 by the rate of exhaust or passage of air into and from the control cylinder 25.

The chute closure 1 is finished by edge and top trim strips 31 suitably removably secured to the angle or frame means of the chute. Suitable cover strips 32 are provided in the chute assembly and bridge over between the chute throat 9 and adjacent portions of the frame of the laundry chute closure. This construction is best illustrated in Pig. of the drawings and these cover strips 32 provide stop flanges 33 at the forward margins thereof against which the door is adapted to abut when closed. The stop flanges 33 protrude laterally inwardly into the center opening of the frame for convenient engagement with the door 10. The cover strips 32 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top angle 2 and side angles 4 and 5 by which they are positioned so that a tight but neat closure is provided connecting the frame of the chute closure to the chute throat or other member.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the closure action provided for the door 10 can be regulated since the engagement between the clamp strap 22 and the control cylinder 25 can readily be varied to change the throw or movement produced between the piston and control cylinder for regulating and adjusting the return or closure action on the door 10. Of course, the control piston 26 could be adjustably secured to the door and the control cylinder 25 could be pivotally secured to the closure or chute frame, if desired, so that a reversal of the positioning of the parts illustrated may be provided. It also should be noted that it may be desired to make the link 19, for example, or the control lever 18 adjustable in length to provide the desired control for the door 10.

It also will be realized that the bearing means used for supporting the door 10 are positioned in a convenient, exposed manner so that the removal of the door and replacement of the positioning bearings for the door can be easily elfected, when desired. I

Obviously any suitable removable closure can be pro vided over the auxiliary or side opening 8 provided in the laundry chute 1 of the invention. By removal of the trim strips or cover panel over the side frame opening 8, the chute closure parts are available forrepair or servicing.

Figs. 6 and 7 show that the controls'for a chute; door may be placed other than at the side of the door; Hence a frame is shown and has a top angle 2a and side angles 4a and 5a. A bottom angle 3a completes the definition of a chute opening over which a door 10a is positioned. The frame also has front support legs 40 and rear support legs 41 extending downwardly from the door 10a and door opening. The door 10a is carried by a shaft 17a positioned in the frame as in the embodiment of the invention of Figs. 1 through 5. This shaft 17a has a control link 18a secured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom from each end of the shaft.

As a feature of the invention, a control cylinder 25a is partly positioned by an angle 42, or other anchor mem her which is shown forming part of a bottom frame secured to the legs 40 and 41. Piston rod 27a of the control cylinder 25a is secured to the angle 42 while the cylinder 25a is adjustably secured to a control link 19a through a releasable strap 22a and similar connection means as described hereinbefore. The control link 19a is pivotally carried on a cross bar 43 extending transversely of the apparatus and located intermediate the front and rear support legs 40 and 41. Connector bars 44 extend between and connect the cross bar 43 pivotally to the control links 18a whereby opening the door 10:: will move the control cylinder 25a to set up forces there in to close the door automatically, if desired.

4 As another special part of the apparatus, a foot operated control bar 45 extends transversely of the apparatus in front of the support legs 40. The control bar 45 is carried by levers 46 fulcrumed on brackets 47 carried by the support legs 40 and 41. The levers 46 pivotally connect to bars 48 solidly secured to the cross bar 43 so that the control bar 45 can be used as a foot operated control for opening the door 10a. Of course, the control bar 45 and associated means can be omitted if no foot control for the door is desired.

It should be noted that the control cylinder 25a can extend upwardly from the cross bar 43 and be partially positioned, for example, by the bottom angle 3a to provide a more compact control.

' By use of connector means having an enclosed linked section engaging pulley means for transmitting forces along the axis of the connector, for example, 22a, the cylinder 25a can extend transversely of the apparatus.

For clarity, cover panels and trim strips as would be used with the frame of Figs. 6 and 7 have been removed. The door bearing means for this frame are as shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Preferably some positive latch means (not shown) are provided to aid in holding a chute door closed after it has been so positioned by the closure means of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the objects of the invention have been achieved and that an attractive accessible chute closure construction has been provided by the invention.

While two complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

' 1. In a laundry or garbage chute or the like, a quadrilateral frame having a center opening therein, a door, means pivotally securing said door to said frame for covering the opening therein, a return cylinder having a' control piston therein, means adjustably securing said return cylinder to said door to move such cylinder a controllable distance corresponding to movement of said door. and means securing said piston to said frame for pivotal movement only to provide relative movement of said piston and return cylinder on movement of said door.

2. In a chute mechanism, frame means having an open portion, a door having a shaft journalled on said frame means for closing said open portion, said frame means having an auxiliary side opening therein, a return cylinder having a spring and piston positioned therein and a piston rod secured to the piston and extending from the cylinder, means pivotally securing said piston rod to said frame at the auxiliary side opening therein, link means secured to said door shaft, and means securing said link means to said cylinder to vary the movement of said cylinder on opening said door and including a clamp and bolt member adjustably engaging said cylinder for changing the action of said return cylinder.

3. In a chute mechanism, an open center frame, a door for closing the open center of said frame, a shaft for pivotally securing said door to said frame, said frame including top and side angle means and forwardly open transversely extending channels at the lower lateral edges of said side angle means, said channels being secured to and being in alignment with said side angle means, and support bearing means on and removably securing said shaft to the front surface of and substantially within said channels whereby said bearing means are readily available for removal thereof to permit removal and repair of said door.

4. In a chute mechanism, an open center frame primarily formed from metal angles and having opposed recessed portions therein, a door for closing the open center of said frame, a shaft for pivotally securing said door to said frame, cover strips secured to and extending over portions of the inner surfaces of said angles and having door stop flanges thereon on the sides and top of said frame said cover strips protruding axially inwardly from the inner surfaces of said angles, and bearing means removably securing said shaft to the recessed portions of said frame.

5. In a chute closure, a frame having an opening therein, a door for closing the opening of the frame, a shaft engaging the door and extending laterally therefrom, a control link secured to said shaft at each end thereof and extending rigidly therefrom, a control cylinder and piston member positioned intermediate the lateral margins of said door, means securing one part of said member to said frame, link means pivotally connected to said control links and extending downwardly therefrom on each side of said door, a cross bar secured to and extending between said link means, and means adjustably connecting said cross bar to said member for relative movement of said piston and cylinder on movement of said door.

6. In a chute closure, a frame having an opening therein, a door for closing the opening of the frame, a shaft engaging the door and extending laterally therefrom, a control link secured to said shaft at each end thereof and extending rigidly therefrom, a control cylinder and piston member positioned intermediate the lateral margins of said door, means securing one part of said member to said frame, link means pivotally connected to said control links and extending downwardly therefrom on each side of said door, a cross bar secured to and extending between said link means, treadle means pivotally connected to said cross bar at laterally spaced portions thereof for moving it vertically, and means pivotally connecting said control cylinder and piston member to said cross bar for return movement of said door and treadle when after being depressed to open said door.

7. In a chute mechanism, an open center planar frame, a door for closing the open center of said frame, a shaft for pivotally securing said door to said fame, said frame including forwardly open means forming a part thereof and lying in the plane of said frame, the ends of said shaft extending into said forwardly open means, bearings engaging said shaft ends, and support clamps removably secured to said forwardly open means and positioning said bearings and shaft ends within said forwardly open means whereby said bearings are readily available for removal thereof and whereby planar cover means can readily be positioned over said frame and bearing assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,539 Hoferle Nov. 3, 1914 1,460,713 Falk July 3, 1923 2,124,349 Herbster July 19, 1938 2,587,021 Wilkinson Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 379,628 Italy Mar. 30, 1940 

